President Duterte held a brief meeting with Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding Chairman Nur Misuari on Monday night at the Palace, Malacañang said.
Presidential Spokesman and Chief Presidential Legal Counsel Salvador S. Panelo said in a briefing on Tuesday that the meeting only lasted for about 15 minutes.
“What transpired last night was [that the] President told the chairman that he admired his patience, and apologized for not having implemented or enforced whatever agreements that they had previously…with respect to federalism or something. They would be talking again precisely about that. They didn’t have much time to talk so they will meet again,” Panelo said.
He also said the President thanked Misuari for being very patient as the President had to attend to so many matters, which is why he wasn’t able to fulfill what was promised, especially on some aspects that has something to do with President’s campaign for federalism.
Nonetheless, the Palace is still not backing down on its federalism push, Panelo said. “Well if there’s a political will, anything is possible,” he said.
The President’s meeting with the MNLF founding chairman comes after the President revealed that there were “ramblings” happening within the rebel group amid reports that the MNLF members are not happy with the composition of the Bangsamoro Transition Authority (BTA).
However, Panelo said these ramblings were not discussed during the meeting.
“Well, for one, if the MNLF was complaining about it, the chairman did not mention it last night. Number two, per [Office of the Presidential Adviser for Peace Process] General [Carlito] Galvez, there has been equitable distribution or representation on that authority,” he said.
The Palace spokesman added that the “equitable” distribution can also mean how effective the representation is with respect to the goals of the BTA.
Panelo also noted that Sandiganbayan has allowed Misuari to leave the country for meetings with officials of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation from February 26 to March 20.